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US House Republicans cite progress in averting government shutdown

19 January 2018 4:49 AM

Abs, speaks to the US reporter Adrian Brune
Congressional Republicans struggled to line up support for a short-term extension of government funding that would avert a politically embarrassing shutdown, after President Donald Trump offered mixed signals on the stopgap plan. Trump complicated the talks by saying a six-year extension of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), a Democratic priority, should not be included. The White House later said the president fully backed the proposal pending in the House of Representatives, which includes the insurance plan. The federal government, which is operating on its third temporary funding extension since the 2018 fiscal year began on Oct. 1.